Interlocking device for railroads



Mar h 3, 1931. o. s. FIELD 1,794,601

INTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR RAILROADS Filed Aug. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1March 3, 1931. s, HELD 1,794,601

INTERLOCKING DEVICE FOR RAILROADS Filed Aug. 12, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2FIG. 4.

Patented Mar. 3, 1931 ca rn STATES "ATENT FFI E OSCAR S. FIELD, OFROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL vRAIIJ/VAY SIGNAL C$MIPANY, OF,BOCHESTER, IiTEl/V YOEK INTER-LOCKING DEVICE FOR RAILROADS Applicationfiled Augustlfi, i929. Serial N'o. 385,124.

This invention relatesto railroad interlocking devices and moreparticularly to electric lever locks. p

In one form of interlocking machine, the

tappet bar operated by each control lever to accomplish the mechanicalinterlocking between levers, is controlled by the action of theassociated lever latch. Eachtime the lever latch is actuated, the leveris released for movement, and the tappet bar is controlled to anintermediate position; but when the lever is in either extreme positionand the lever latch associated therewith is released, thelever is lockedfrom movement and the tappet bar is controlled to a correspondingextreme position. This arrangement is com monly known as latchlocking,and assures that no opposing levermovement has been initiated,also that the mechanical locking between levers may not be forced bypressure applied to the control lever. j

It has been proposed to furtherprotect train operation by the provisionof an electric lock governing the movement of each lever with whicn itis associated, which lock shall be dependent upon the conditions of thetrackway associated therewith for its ac tuation to a releasingposition. It is further proposed that such a lock shall be provided withmeans for mechanically forcing its locking member to anengaging positioneach time the lever latch, of its associated control lever is released,thus assuring the proper operation of the lock at all times. One objectof the present invention is to provide an improved construction of anelectric. lock of the type described for latch locked interlockinglevers, so that the electric lock is compact, may he cheaplymanufactured, easily inspected or repaired, and affords the desiredsafety. 7 3 Qther objects, purposes and characteristic features will inpart be obvious from the accompanying rawings and in part pointed out adescription of the invention progresses.

In describing the inventionin detail, reference will bemade to theaccompanying H drawings, in which Flo. 1 shows a side elevation of anelectr1c look as included withinthe present invent lever lock asincluded Within the present invention, associated with a lever ofaninter locking machine;. Fig. 2 shows a side elevation of the'ele'ctriolever lock as includedwithin the present invention with certain partsshown in ec-j tion; i Fig. 3 shows a section of the electric lever tionbeing taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 shows a section of theelectric lever lock as included within the present invention being takenon linel4 of Fig. 2/

l Vith reference to Fig. 1 ofthe accompanying drawings, a standard typeinterlocking FF lever L is shown havingassociated-therewith an electriclever lock EL constructed in ace cordance with the present invention.Z'lhe lever is pivotally mounted on a shaft 5 supported by the legs '6of the interlocking machine in the usual way. A lever latch handle 7 ispivoted on the leverL and is connected by a rod l to a latch d0g'8 and arocker die 10 which are pressed down bya spring 8. The latch dog 8engages with shoulders on the fixed quadrant 9 when said leverL is inextreme positions while the die. 10 slides in curved slot ll" within arocker link 11. The slot 11* iorms'an are having a radius extending fromthe afxis oii the shaft 5. The 39 rocker link 11 is pivoted at point 12and has pivotally attached thereto at one'end a rod 13 which isconnected to a tap-pet bar of mechanical interlocking between levers inthe usual manner. 1

The electric lever lock EL has a locking plunger or looking bar. 14which is operatively connected to he lever L by pivoted connectinglinlrs 15. The electric lever lock 7 EL also has a circuit controlleroperated by 539 the action of the lever lat-ch handle 7 Thiscircuitcontrolleris connected through a rod 16 to the rocker link 11.

The lever L has rigidly connectec thereto the usual crosslevers or taillevers 1'? and 18 for controlling the traiiiccontrolling devicesassociated there vith.

ith reference to Fig. 2 of the drawings, the electric lever lock EL isshown as pro vided witha lower casing member 20 and an ,mounted theactuating ber 22 is mounted above the locking bar 12!:

and adjacent thereto being held in position by projections 21 and 21(see Fig. 2) which have suitable guiding slots therein. 7 Theseprojections 21 and 21 casing member 21. l I

Above the inclosed lockmg chamber solenoid of the electric lock. Thissolenoid combination includes a coil 23, abrass or other non-magneticmetal lining 2-1, ands plunger 25. Mounted to the plunger 25 at thelower end is acweb member 28 which passes around or overthe cam bar 22(see Fig. being r idly attached to a locking dog 27; This locking dog271s provided to enter suitable lcckir recesses 1 and l withinthelocking b. i 1 The cam member 22 also has a retaining r ass 22 forpermitting the upward movement of the lock dog 27 when said recess 22 is21Cl1u0611i either the locking recess 14L or 14?. i he projections 2Oand 20 'are provided with Still) able guiding slots 2 c to prevent anyhorizontal motion; Fig. 2) of the locking dog 27 when engaged by thelocking bar 14-.

At the upper end of the plunger 25, a ro 28is mountedwhich passesthrough a cor 33 and an aperture 29 (preferably oversized) in a lockplate 29. The core is mounted in a cover 3 1- whichincloses the coil 23except at, an opening left so that the coil leads may be taken to aterminal block.

The lock plate 29'is pivotally mounted at one side by a screw 30 isbiased toward an oil? center position by an anchored coil spring 31,whereby, it this bias is not counter acted by means other than the rod28, the rod 28 cannot easily slide in the aperture 29. However, thisplate 29 is held in a cen a. position. so that the rod 28 may normalh ireely slide in the aperture 29, by a cove member 32 having an. inwardlypro ectin. retaining lug 32, when properly laced n position and can belocked therein by suitable means. It case the coil 23 fails to beenergized, this arrangement permits the oper ator to manually raise oractuate the plunger 25, which position is maintained, while he operatesthe lever L, by the 'irlctlon produced on the rod28 with the lock plate29 being biased toward an ofi center position when the cover 32 isremoved. In other words, the plunger 25 may be said to be passively in"1.. tained in an actuated position by the binding etlect of the lockplate 29, but not actively looked as the cam member 22 can stil forcethe associated lock dog 27 into'a locking Tb ese casing memare integralwith they position when the lever latch handle 7 is re-- leased. V

A crank member 35 is pivotally supported by the frame 21 upon a pin 36.This crank member has attached thereto a circular contact 37 mountedupon suitable insulating material, and which engages a pair of fined contact members 38 and 39 which are suitably mounted to terminal block l0.

The crank member 35 is connected to the rocker link llby theconnecting-rod 16 as heretofore 'mentioned.

In the movement of crank member 35 upon the pivot point 36, the cammember 22 is slidably operated, as pin ll, which is attached to said cammember22, slidably engages the crank member 35within suitable slotsprovided therein.

l/Vhen the lever L is in either extreme position and the lever latch isreleased,.the

rocker link 11 is operated to a'normal or a' reverse positioncorresponding to the normal and reverse positions assumed by the ing rod16, ittoo will assume a normal non contacting position as shown,an'intennediate contacting position so that the contact 37 willinterconnect the fixed contacts 38 and 39, and also a reversenon-contacting position. The reverse non-contacting position is providedfor by a recess 40? within the to *minal blocl 40 which allows thecontact 37 to pass to the right of the fixed contacts 38 and 39 (seeFig. 4-).

With the crank member 35 assumingany one of its three positions,obviously the cam member 22 must likewise assume corresponding positionsas it is slidably operated within the guiding slots provided in theprojections 21 and 21 When the cam member 22 is in its intermediateposition, the retaining recess 22 is opposite the lock dog 27 whichpermits the actuation of said lock dog 27 to a non-engaging position inrespect to the lock bar 14. 7

Let us assume that the operator desires to move the lever L from itspresent extreme normal position to an extreme reverse position. To dothis he actuates the lever latch handle 7, thus disengaging the latchdog 8 from the quadrant 9 and actuates the crank member 35 to anintermediate contacting position. With the crank member 35 in anintermediate position, the cam member 22 has also been operated to anintermediate position so that the retaining slot 22 is adjacent to thelocking recess 14?. Also, the contact 37 lbs electrically interconnectsthe fixedcontacts 38 and 39 whichcloses a suitable circuit for thesolenoid coil 23, providing the track section associated therewith isunoccupied. Thus, the plunger 25 is actuated to an upper extremeposition, in which position the lock dog 27 is within the retainingrecess 22 allowing the movement of the lever L to a reverse extremeposition.

When the lever L has been operated to a reverse extreme position, thelocking recess 14* is beneath the retaining recess 22 so that as thelever latch handle 7 is released and the coil 23 deene'rgized, the lockdog 27 is forced into the locking recess M by the inclined surfaces ofthe retaining recess 22 as the cam member 22 moves in a left handdirectiontowards its extreme left hand position. Also should the coil 23remain energized for some undesirable reason, when the lever latch hand7 is released, the lock dog 27 would still be forced into a lockingposition by the cam member 22. i

The operation of the lever Lfrom areverse position to a normal positionis an inverse function oi the operation above explained.

With this arrangement as above explained, the release of the lever latchhandle 7, when he lever L is ineither extreme positiominechanicallyforces the locking dog 27 into engagement with the lock bar let.However, if either of the locking recesses 14 and 14* are not in properpositions due to lost motion or other causes affecting the position ofthe lever L, then the lockdog 27 can not be forced down by the cammember 22. This results in the lever L being incapable of being latched,which prevents the movement of the tappet bar associated with this leverto be moved to its extreme position, thus preventing opposing levermovements until the defect is remedied.

It should be noted that the lock bar 14 may vary in size and length, andalso the number of locking notches, and their size and shape may vary toa considerable extent. according to the various conditions to be met inthe practics of well known interlocking principles. It should further benoted that the size of the lock dog 27 may vary according to thestresses which are to be placed upon it.

l Vith the circuit of the coil 23 being governed by the lever latch,considerable energy is saved in that it is not energized except at suchtimes that the lock dog 27 is to be actuated to a non-engaging position.

An electric lock peculiarly adaptable for latch locked interlockinglevers has been described. This electric lock, as an embodiment of thepresent invention, is compact in size and form, efficient and safe inoperation.

An electric lock as one specific embodiment of the present invention hasbeen described to "ac itate the disclosure and explanation of he natureof the invention, and it is to be understood that thevariousmodifications and adaptations which may be applied to such anelectric look so that it will meet the require ments of variousoperating conditions, areto except when actuated, means capable ofactuatin said locking means, covermeans normally positioned to preventmanual actuation of said locking means, means passively main tainingsaid locking means actuated when said cover means is not normallypositioned.

2. In an electric lock for interlocking con-v trol levers, a lockplunger operated by. a control lever, a locking dog engaging said lockplunger to restrict its movement, amagnet plunger connected tosaidlocking dog, a-sole noid magnet capable of actuating said magnetplunger, contact means controlling said solenoid magnet,- meansinclosing said contact means, and means permitting manual actuating ofsaid magnet plunger when said inclosingmeans is not in a normalinclosing position.

3. In an electric lock for interlockingcontrol levers, a lock plungeroperated by a control lever, locking meanscapableof preventing movementof said lock plunger except when actuated, electroanagnet means capableof actuating said locking means, contact means governing theoperation ofsaid electro-magnet means, cover means inclosing said contact means andpreventing unauthorized manual manipulation, and means permitting manualactuation of said locking means when said cover means is removed.

4. In an electric lock for interlocking control levers, a lock plungeroperated by a control lever, a locking means capable of preventingmovement of said lock plunger veX- cept when actuated, electro-magnetmeans capable of actuating said locking means, contact means governingthe operation of said electro-.

through said aperture of said spring biased plate when said lockingmeans is actuated, I r

and abnormally prevented from freely pass-. ing through said aperturewhen said spring biased plate is in a biasedposition. V 5. In anelectric lock for interlocking levers, a slidably operable lock bar, apivoted. link means connecting said lock bar with an interloclringlever, a slidably operablecain bar, adjacent to said lock bar andoperably controlled by a lever latch handle, a lock dog between saidloclrbar and said cam bar sotively preventing movement of said lock barexcept when actuated, an electro-magnet, an armature capable of beingoperated by said electio-mag'net, a'web member rigidly con necting saidlock dog to said armature with said web allowing the passage of said cambar between said armature and said lock dog, circuit controlling meansassociated with said electro-magnet, cover means normally in apredetermined position for protecting. said circuit controlling means,and preventing manual actuation of said lock dog, and a lock leanspassively maintaining actuation of said lock dog when said cover meansis not nornially'positionedr v 6. In an electric lock for interlockinglevers, a solenoid actuating means with circuit controlling meansvassociated therewith, a

plun r controlled to an extreme position by actua-J on of said solenoid,a lock dog, a web cam member is in an intermediate position.

7. In an electric lock for interlocking control levers, a two partcasing, a locking bar slidably mounted within said casing and operablyconnected to a control lever, a cam member slidably mounted adjacent tosaid locking bar, a locking dog mounted between said locking bar andsaid cam member within a locking recess in said lock bar, actuatingmeans rigidly connected tosaid lock dog by V web member passing oversaid cam member and mounted above said locking bar and said cam member,whereby the movement of said control lever is governed in accordancewith said actuating means. 7

8. In an electric loclr for interlocking control levers, a lock plungeroperably connected *ith a control lever and capable of assuming eitherof two extreme positions, a cam plunger slidably engaging said lockplunger and operable to either of two extreme positions or to anintermediate position by a lever latch handle, two locking recesses insaid lock. plunger, a retaining recess in said cam plunger, mountingmeans slidably supporting said lock plunger and said cam plunger, a

lock dogactively engaging said mounting means and preventing movement ofsaid lock plunger from either extreme position with said cam plunger ineither extreme position,

and means for actuating said lock dog into said retaining recess whensaid cam plunger is in an intermediate position releasing said lockplunger.

In testimony whereof I aifii; my signature. 7

OSCAR S. Fill-Ll).

